Aquaphor
41% petrolatum, and the most useful product in most cabinets. It contains lanolin — dermatologists' Allergen of the Year in 2023.
Reviewed by Dr. Schwarz, MD · Dermatologist
A dermatologist’s take
Recommend.
Aquaphor is the all-purpose ointment for cracked lips, chapped hands and healing skin. At 41% petrolatum it slows water loss without sealing the skin shut. Apply it over damp skin. If you have reacted to it before, I would suspect the lanolin and use Vaseline.
Pros
- No added fragrance
- Good fit for dry skin
Cons
- Contains lanolin, a potential contact allergen
- Greasy finish can transfer onto fabrics
Skin fit
Who is it best for?
Dry Skin
Good fitDry skin loses water faster than it can replace it. An ointment does not add water; it stops what is there from leaving.
Put it on damp skin out of the shower, and on the worst patches — heels, elbows, knuckles — rather than all over.
Eczema
Okay fitEczema-prone skin has a leaky barrier and loses water constantly, which is part of why it itches. Aquaphor cuts that loss and stings less than a cream on skin that is cracked open.
It is a seal, not a treatment, so it goes over a prescription steroid, not instead of one. It contains lanolin, named Allergen of the Year in 2023.
Lip Eczema
Okay fitLips have almost no barrier and no oil glands to build one, so they dry out faster than anything on the face, and licking makes it worse.
Apply it often enough that you stop reaching for your tongue instead.
Hand Dermatitis
Okay fitEvery hand wash strips surface fats that have to be replaced. Apply it last thing at night, when it can sit undisturbed for hours.
Cotton gloves keep it on your hands rather than the sheets.
Contact Dermatitis
Poor fitLanolin alcohol is a common contact allergen. If a rash keeps coming back where you apply it, rule that out.
CeraVe Healing Ointment is lanolin free.
Acne
Poor fitThe classic slugging product. Petrolatum with lanolin is a heavy seal, and on an acne-prone face it traps oil under the layer.
Sun Damage
Poor fitSlugging gets framed as anti-aging. Skin holds more water overnight and looks smoother, but there is no active here to rebuild collagen.
Feel & smell
What does it feel like?
Ointment
A thick, greasy ointment. The grease is the seal.
It does not sink in. It sits on top and stays shiny for a long while. It will mark a pillowcase and transfer to clothes. It is fragrance-free and does not sting, which is why it is the usual choice on skin that is cracked open. The mineral oil makes it spread more easily than plain petroleum jelly.
Inside the formula
What do the main ingredients do?
How this formula works.
Sealing the wall is the least glamorous of a moisturizer's three moves and the most effective. Petrolatum lays a water-repellent film across the surface and cuts water loss by more than 98%. No other ingredient comes close, which is why this works on skin that will not otherwise heal.
Full clinical explanation
Sealing the wall is the least glamorous of a moisturizer's three moves and the most effective. Petrolatum lays a water-repellent film across the surface and cuts water loss by more than 98%. No other ingredient comes close, which is why this works on skin that will not otherwise heal.
The useful detail is that Aquaphor is 41% petrolatum, not 100%. It is semi-occlusive — it lets a little water vapor through. That is why it is preferred over plain petroleum jelly on healing wounds and post-procedure skin, where sealing something completely shut is not what you want.
Glycerin and panthenol add a little water-holding that pure jelly does not. The lanolin alcohol that makes it spread so easily is also why some people react to it.
Full ingredient list · 7 ingredients
Petrolatum 41%, Paraffinum Liquidum, Ceresin, Lanolin Alcohol, Panthenol, Glycerin, Bisabolol
All ingredient roles
Glycerin
A small humectant. It moves into the outer layer of skin and holds water there.
Use & results
How to use it.
How much
A thin layer, warmed between your fingers. A thick blob mostly transfers onto fabric.
Careful
Keep it off oily, acne-prone areas of the face, and off infected wounds and fresh burns. If you have ever reacted to it, suspect the lanolin and switch to plain petroleum jelly.
What to expect
Cracked, sore skin feels better within a day and usually closes within a week. It works while it is on, so nothing builds up and nothing gets worse first.
Price spectrum
Where does the price fall?
Paying more doesn’t guarantee better results. A good buy is a formula with the right ingredients, strength and texture for your skin. Use price per ounce to compare cost, then weigh it against the pros and cons above.
The product line
Which Aquaphor product should you choose?
Aquaphor’s lineup includes sealing ointments, lip care and a moisturizing cream. Their ingredients and feel are not identical. Choose an ointment when you want a heavier seal, and compare a cream or lip-specific formula for a different finish or use.
Healing Ointment
The standard tub or tube. Petrolatum 41% with lanolin alcohol, for hands, lips and healing skin.
Baby Healing Ointment
Same ingredient list as the original. Buy whichever is cheaper.
Lip Repair
Despite the name, no petrolatum and no lanolin. A cosmetic, not a skin protectant.
Aquaphor Moisturizing Cream
A cream, not an ointment. Sinks in, less greasy, seals less.
More about the lineup
Aquaphor is one product in a family on the same petrolatum base. What changes is the container and how thick a layer you leave.
Alternatives
If it didn’t work for you
CeraVe Healing Ointment
More petrolatum than Aquaphor, 49.5% against 41%, plus ceramides and no lanolin. It costs more per ounce.
Read the review →
Vaseline
Seals just as well, with no lanolin and no fragrance. Aquaphor spreads more easily; Vaseline costs less.
Read the review →
Coconut Oil
Softens dry skin but does not seal it the way an ointment does. It clogs pores and feeds fungal acne on many people.
Read the review →Questions
Before you buy
How is Aquaphor different from Vaseline?
Vaseline is 100% petrolatum. Aquaphor is 41% petrolatum with glycerin, panthenol and lanolin.
What is the lanolin concern with Aquaphor?
Lanolin was Allergen of the Year in 2023. If you react to it, Aquaphor makes things worse.
Is Aquaphor fragrance-free?
Yes. No added fragrance.
Can I use Aquaphor for slugging?
Yes. A common last step to seal a routine overnight.
Is Aquaphor good for healing wounds?
Yes. Semi-occlusive, so it is a common choice for healing and post-procedure skin.
Sources
Sources and further reading
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